2026-01-07: Already A Friend
- Log: Already A Friend
- Cast: Niko Kirisaki, Reiya Aomori
- Where: Port Island Station - Back Alleys
- OOC Date: January 07, 2026
- IC Date: September 06, 2012
- Summary: Reiya spots Niko in the vicinity of the SEES dorm again and stealthily follows her. When she doesn't go anywhere particularly notable, he decides to confront and question her directly. With Reiya playing along with her whims, Niko finds him interesting enough to cooperate with the proposed 'game': an information exchange.
(|==================== Port Island Station - Back Alleys =====================|)
-======================================= Iwatodai City/Tatsumi Port Island ====-
The first thing one might notice is the conflict of old versus new. The
businesses here are more run down, but still stand defiantly, signs of rougher
dive bars and hangouts for the folk who don't quite belong in the sunlight of
Port Island. In the day, it's mostly drunks and people with nowhere else to go
who stand outdoors.
At night, the rougher elements of the town congregate openly amidst the rusted
chain link fences and litter-filled streets. Delinquent teens who never made it
into high school hang out, openly ignoring the laws decent people follow. All
who enter here are subject to at least seven pairs of eyes on them, deciding
whether or not someone belongs amongst them.
Better hope you pass muster, or you're gonna risk a beating.
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
There's been a predator stalking the nest. Is what you might say if you wanted to be poetic about Niko Kirisaki of Strega, having been seen hanging about the Iwatodai dorm's general vicinity. Not on a daily basis, but more than the one time Minako spotted her and struck up a conversation. Which went pretty hilariously off topic, to the point where things may have been learned about Niko personally, but nothing about what she was actually doing there.
Unless you wanted to take her claims at face value, that she was just bored and wanted to see what would happen. Completely in character for Niko, to be fair. But is that really a safe assumption to make from a known Strega operative, who takes money to commit violence, and seems to be of the opinion that the Joker Killer is a real swell guy? Perhaps someone should... find out.
Sure enough, Niko showed up again today. More than once even. The first time she passed by was during school hours. The second time though was in the early evening. She didn't actually appear to be doing much of anything. Just pass by out in front of the dormitory. Lingering a moment, staring at the front door, gaze lifting higher up for a short time. And then she just kept walking. Disappointed, perhaps, that no one came out to confront her this time. As far as she noticed.
So where does Niko go, on your typical evening? Well, first she went to a konbini at the local station's strip mall, buying potato sticks and a pack of gum. No crimes there, she just paid for everything like a normal person. The clerk seemed to know her, they had a friendly bit of chit-chat. Then she took the train to Port Island Station, snacking on the potato sticks on the way. Again, zero crimes involved, unless you count the whole 'food on the train' bit, but who pays attention to that? She just used a pass, no hopping of turnstiles or anything like that.
Getting off the train, she got a coffee from a vending machine, cheerfully waved at someone in passing - was that the owner of Rafflesia? - and made her way directly into territory that only those of ill repute would even think of going. The infamous back alleys of Port Island Station.
After briefly acknowledging the couple of other punks chatting in the entryway, she leaned against a wall by herself, finishing off her potato sticks and can of coffee - effortlessly lifting the lid of a nearby dumpster with one hand to dispose of the packaging. Can't even put her down for littering, is she really a criminal??
After a while, the other two punks leave, leaving Niko by herself. A moment later, she stretches herself out, pops a stick of gum in her mouth, and casually strolls deeper into the alleys. Is this it? Are we finally getting somewhere of note?
Well, if you consider 'a dead end' to be somewhere of note. All Niko does is sit down on a crate, after a while starting to hum a cheery tune to herself. Is this really all she does on a typical evening...?
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
Reiya Aomori has noticed a certain attested Strega member hanging around the dorms. That could be harmless, of course--but it could be a problem. But today, she won't have to be disappointed long, because...
The second time Niko steps by, Reiya steps out in secret as she leaves, and stealthily follows her. In some cases he's just with the crowd; in some cases he's hidden in alleyways. At least once he's on the konbini's roof.
No crimes; food on the train does not count. It seems many people know Niko. Or at least, on a casual acquaintance basis. Then, there's the matter of the back alleys...
The dead end is right; Reiya judges that there's no more to be determined just by tailing her, not unless he continues into the Dark Hour, which... would be risky.
So:
Reiya steps out of the shadows when the punks leave. "Hello," a boy in a Gekkoukan uniform says. He has blue hair and violet eyes; he looks a lot like but not identical to Minato. And--
"Kirisaki-san, isn't it?"
"My name is Aomori."
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Niko jumps five feet in the air when she suddenly hears her name. Metaphorically, she didn't actually jump at all. It just looks like her spirit left her body for a second there. Then she lets out her breath, hand on her chest.
"Don't do that, geez!"
Perfectly normal reaction to someone who seemingly appeared out of nowhere. 'Normal' would be the wrong descriptor for her for so many reasons, but that doesn't mean she doesn't respond sensibly, sometimes.
Vaguely annoyed, she looks the culprit up and down, before hopping off her crate. She doesn't quite reach his height, but it's very close. Not common for a girl, but then neither is the muscle definition, certainly not at the high school age she appears to be.
"You don't look like the sort that normally hangs out here. I'd ask if you were lost or something, but... you know my name."
Suddenly, she smiles, raising her voice as she points in his direction. "Or, so you thought, but you got it WRONG! It's Niko-chan, Ni-ko-chan~ Go on, say it! Tell me your first name while you're at it, why dontcha? Can't get started off on the right foot without being friendly with each other, now can we?"
Hopefully Reiya has a high mint tolerance, because her breath is extremely minty right now - that's Black Black she's chewing, a caffeinated gum known for its intense menthol punch.
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
It's a very normal reaction! Reiya doesn't apologize this time; instead, he regards Niko thoughtfully; near his height, muscular...
"I'm not," Reiya confirms. He is neither lost nor the type to usually hang out here. But?
"Hmm."
That is intensely minty--he doesn't flinch but he does notice it. And the name... He remains quite stoic about the whole thing. He thinks about it--and decides...
"Very well, Niko-chan. I don't know that we'll be friends, but if that is your preference I can oblige."
"My given name is Reiya. You may use it if you wish."
"I wanted to ask you a few questions. That's why I'm here."
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Oh man, Niko thinks to herself, could it be? Creeping up on you silently, zero qualms about using the Niko-chan address, and the way he talks... there's a second Kurou Ryouhara?? This is a huge plus in Niko's book, Kurou has proven to be very interesting. If this guy is half as interesting, this could actually be fun.
She does not hide her elation one bit, that smile growing impossibly wider when her request/demand is assented to. "That's right, that's right, you got it! And so I will call you... Reiya-chan!" At least she sees no need to add a nickname on top of that, it's not necessary this time. Two syllables tops or she needs to shorten it, that's the rule.
She waves a hand dismissively. "And don't you worry about that, after all..."
Unnecessarily long dramatic pause...
"You are... already a friend."
Yes, she literally just went 'omae wa mou tomodachi da'. She'll indulge her inner nerd whenever she feels like it.
If nothing else, Reiya seems to have successfully put Niko in the best of moods, which may increase her level of cooperation. If you wanted to think about things in practical and thus boring terms. That's not what Niko's all about.
"Sure sure, ask away, whatcha wanna know?"
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
Reiya would have opinions about being compared to Kurou Ryouhara. But he doesn't know that right now. Instead, he just sort of rolls with things, because he's here on a mission. It's a little weird to go straight to -channing with someone who may be the enemy, but not as weird as some other things he's seen around lately. At least she seems happy; that should make her more cooperative.
Yes, he's boring like that.
"...Hm. I suppose it's better than being already dead," he allows. He apparently gets the reference.
"Reiya-chan, then. I'll accept this."
He does have a sense of dignity... but it's like making a deal!
"First, I wanted to know why you hang around the Iwatodai dormitories--the Gekkoukan dorm."
"The one that SEES occupies. I've noticed your presence there; you occasionally talk to its members, but even when you don't, you're around."
"Why is that? It seems quite out of your way."
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
He gets the reference?! And he let her -chan him but never mind that HE EVEN GETS THE REFERENCE?! Is... is this guy actually perfect? At this rate, Niko might actually cry tears of happiness. It's usually so hard for people to really get her, but this complete stranger is making her feel so appreciated!
But then, unfortunately... he gets to his questions. Which are about that. Her face falls abruptly.
"...Oh. I see. You're with them. Well that sucks."
Doesn't mean she can't appreciate those other things about him, including his directness. But it does reframe things a bit, doesn't it? Now she has to consider motivations and stuff, have to actually watch what she says. What a pain.
But even though she just looks deflated now, she still answers the question. Sort of.
"Does there need to be a reason? I'm just doing what I want. Right now, I feel like seeing what you SEES people are all about." That smile is quick enough to return, at least. "So, thank you for getting the hint! I appreciate you coming all the way out here to hang out, saved me the trouble!"
Then her hand flies to her mouth in shock. "Wait, how DID you find me back here? Were you FOLLOWING me? Do I have a STALKER?" Then she just grins. "Kickass, always wanted to know what that felt like."
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
Unfortunately, reality must always settle in. "I am," Reiya confirms. He doesn't comment on how deflated she looks; that's not as important. But...
"Hmm." Does there need to be a reason? "Everyone has reasons for what they do. Even if it's just curiosity." Seeing what they're all about... "Fair enough. I wonder the same about you and your group," he says. But before he can continue--
"Yes," Reiya says. "Well, a stalker implies I would keep following you... But now that we're having the chance to speak, I have no reason to continue."
"For now. I may have a reason in the future."
Hmmm.
"I can tell you what we're about, in my view at least. I'd like you to do the same for you and your allies, to me. Understanding one another would be helpful to both of our aims, I think."
"I will go first; SEES intends to protect the people from the Shadows and other supernatural hazards, especially Apathy Syndrome and the Dark Hour."
"Do you and your allies have a goal?"
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
"True that," Niko will allow. "If you wanna say the reason is 'curiosity', that's fair. If it helps, you wouldn't be getting my attention if you were boring."
Does that help? Niko thinks it should. Few things worse to be than boring. And to be deprived of her attention, who'd want that that happen? And yes, Strega is many things but they're not boring, Reiya's right to be interested in kind.
Too bad he isn't really a stalker. Wait, too bad?! "Damn. Easy come, easy go, huh?" She brightens at the possibility of there being reason to in the future. "Cool. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for ya~" Niko why do you want a stalker what is wrong with you
Well, attention from a guy like this isn't so bad, in general. He already has her figured out so well. Right down to the way he chooses to change his approach, make it a little more interesting.
"Ohhh, I see, you wanna make a game out of this? Sure, I'll play." She looks perfectly happy to, and there's nothing feigned about that. She listens to what he has to say about SEES's goals, and... she shakes her head.
"See, right off the bat you're making a mistake. You think we're like you, this big ol' group of buddy-buddies that fight for justice with the power of friendship, or whatever. We're barely a group, we just kind of do our own thing most of the time." She spreads her arms wide, indicating this empty corner she chose to sit in, by herself. "Haven't even decided yet where I'll sleep tonight."
She shrugs. "Sure, we do stuff together. Mostly someone goes 'I wanna do this, who wants in', and then we go from there. That'll be the goal, for that day, and then we move on."
As a casual afterthought, she adds, "If that's all you guys wanna do, good luck, I guess."
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
"Hmm. It does help. It tells me more about your motivations," Reiya says. He is not completely unfamiliar with boring vs. interesting; he is a drama guy. But... It's strange. He expected an enemy, someone intent upon their goals as he is upon his. Niko is... different from that.
"Good. Though, if I do it properly, you won't see me," he points out. He doesn't clarify that he has ninja training; that's one of those things that goes without saying.
For his part, he figures a fair exchange of information is--well, it's not actually fair, he's holding back, but sharing things that he considers public knowledge in return for more detailed information is a trick that's worked for him before.
"Oh?" A mistake. His eyes turn distant as she says that. "I assumed it was something less savory," he admits, "But I did assume you were a unified group. That's true." They do their own thing... and he tilts his head when she says she hasn't decided where to sleep. "No family?" he wonders. "No home?"
But they do stuff together.
"Thank you. That is helpful to me. I understand then that you have disparate goals..."
"But I do have one more question."
"Where did your sometimes-allies get their Evokers?" he wonders. "If you're aware, and willing to tell me."
"..Since you call it a game, I will of course answer another question in return, if you wish."
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Niko has all kinds of motivations! She is so complex, you'll never guess them oh wait she just pretty much gave the game away, that's it, that's everything. Well. She does have certain deeper motivations. She just doesn't talk about those, with anyone. They couldn't, and shouldn't, understand.
But never mind that, who wants to talk about *stalking*? "Well that's not fair. You gotta tell me if you're gonna stalk me. We'll make it a game of hide and seek, it'll be fun!" Whoops, already moved on from stalking, now it's something else. Is she somehow even younger than she looks, to be so excited about hide and seek?
Well, at least they have their current game to play. It's a fun game too, being perfectly honest about everything you say, just not saying absolutely everything. Niko plays it all the time. She knows the rules, and feels confident about knowing when it's best to stop following them.
'Less savory' he says. Niko can't help but let out a small guffaw. "Well, we do get back at people for money, you do know that right?" Revenge Request is kind of an open secret (you can get the link for 500 yen if you know who to ask!), there's no way SEES wouldn't know about that. And thus no reason not to admit it. "Same deal though. Someone goes 'here's a job, who wants in'. Everyone who helps gets their fair share. It's a living."
By the way she's talking, Reiya's questions about family and a home have an easy answer. "Strega's the closest thing any of us got. It's where you go when you don't belong anywhere."
She doesn't look particularly sad about it. Just kind of 'it is how it is'. But, attitude matters too. The way she lost that energetic edge to her bearing. Not that it would be a huge shock, if the teenager with a sad life did feel sad about it. And did not want to be confronted with it.
She's quick to return to her usual self, at the question about Evokers. "Talking to the wrong gal about that one. They gave one to me when I joined, all I know is, they can get more. Don't know where they come from, don't care." And she's not about to throw Jin under the bus by saying he's the one who takes care of that.
So instead, she decides to take advantage of the opportunity presented, grinning widely. "You're damn right, it should've been my turn already! So, how about this..." She takes a moment to consider her phrasing, chewing her gum loudly, because that helps with the thinking. "Tell me about the Kirijo Robo."
There, perfect phrasing. She's been curious about that ever since Noriaki told her about it. "You deadass got an actual android fighting with you? That's totally metal, like, literally, holy shit. You gotta tell me all about what it can do."
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
Everybody has their secrets. Reiya certainly has his. But stalking!
"Hmmm. Being unfair is the point," he muses. "But that could be interesting. A good way to keep on my toes." He doesn't plan to let Strega practice going through his abilities, but it's true that it would be interesting.
Still... It is fun.
"Yes," Reiya says. "But money as a motivation seemed... insufficient. You could already rob stores and people during the Dark Hour trivially. So I assume there's more to it than that."
Strega... Family and home. "I see."
Reiya doesn't push it; he's not going to prod something sensitive... or at least, that he assumes is sensitive. He's not entirely sure; he misses some cues. That's why even his interrogation technique is so direct, because he's not the social guy.
"I see. Well, fair enough. You not only have them, you have a source for them. That's something."
He didn't get the answer he wanted... but fair's fair. Or at least, the appearance of fair. Kirijo Robo!
"Gynoid," Reiya corrects. "...All right. Yes. She is capable of fighting Shadows with great facility. She has inbuilt firearms," something Noriaki saw, "And a Persona." Something Noriaki also saw. "She is far more adept physically than most humans, as well. Her agility, strength, and endurance are top-tier. I do not recommend fighting her if you can help it."
"...Really, that's all the questions I had for now. It has been... Interesting, speaking with you."
"I won't try to chase you off of talking to the others." He starts to turn away. "Though..."
"If we speak again, maybe something less serious. I hear you like video games."
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Niko of course is quick to affirm what she wants to hear. "Yeah yeah, now you're getting it. It's all about sharpening your senses. ...And shit." Bit of an odd pause, but whatever. She's obviously just in it for the fun, she's made no secret about that being her main motivation in anything she does.
"Man," is her only initial response, when Reiya goes over other things they could do for money. As if she's insulted by thinking that lowly of them. There's a brief pause before she casually states, "I'm not gonna say it's about justice or anything, but... feels better to go after people who deserve it, doesn't it?"
Reiya has correctly judged that pushing it on what she doesn't have would be a mistake. She's about fun, as has been established. Topics that are not fun are best avoided.
This is why the game works so well for her. And she's played it well enough, she didn't lie a single time, right down to not giving a shit about logistics. She'll simply take whatever people give her. Good policy in her book.
She laughs boisterously at the word 'gynoid'. "Damn, you are such a nerd." She can say that, because she's one too. This is a compliment.
Interesting through. She knew there was a personality involved, apparently one elaborately enough constructed to be specifically a female one. Everything she hears just reaffirms what she already hoped. That it would be just like something ripped straight out of an anime. Makes zero sense for that to be real, but if is, then she's got to see this gynoid for herself. Don't worry about the giggling she's doing to herself as she listens. Nothing to worry about.
The giggle becomes louder when Reiya gives her his final recommendation. Purposely imitating the way he speaks, she promises with a slight bow, "I will take that recommendation under advisement."
Yeah, she's totally fighting her, first chance she gets. Ain't nobody who'd believe otherwise. Niko isn't like most humans in a physical sense, she's got to know how she measures up to an actual robot.
She is a little surprised, at the game ending so soon. Really, that was it? Takaya was right, they have no idea, they do? Well, that's alright. She bets there will be more questions next time.
Or... maybe about less serious matters? "Ha! Yeah, that's cool. I do like video games. Well, thanks for hanging out. Made for a less boring evening, for sure."
She calmly watches Reiya leave, before moving out of the dead end herself. Turning a corner, she heads in the opposite direction, deeper into the maze of alleyways.
And then she yells after him, "If you need my number, ask one of your pals!"
Oh yes. At least two members of SEES have Niko's number. But who are they? Niko's not telling - she's gone, and not going to be found so easily again. No, this is another fun game she's playing. Care to play, Reiya-chan~?